SEATTLE — One man died in an overnight shootout in Belltown and two others ended up in the hospital. The suspect fled; the 20-year-old victim was found dead in a parking lot with a gun in his hand.
The gunfire erupted just after 1:45 Saturday morning along First Avenue near Lenora Street. Residents told KIRO 7 it was a jarring way to wake up, but they've become accustomed to that sound.
"I'm not actually frightened,” said Dione McGehee who lives nearby. “I'm just shocked at how it's become so pervasive."
McGehee and others want police to do more, but officers were standing just 40 feet away from the shooting.
"We arrived within 10 to 15 seconds at the time the gunfire finished,” Detective Drew Fowler told KIRO 7 at the scene.
Seattle police say they have stepped up patrols. They say they use data to determine what parts of the city need more officers. Last weekend KIRO 7 told you about increased patrols in downtown at the Pike/Pine corridor.
In September police saturated Capitol Hill. They say because of their efforts, robberies dropped 42 percent and assaults are down 35 percent, but both SPD and the city's mayor say Seattle desperately needs more officers.
"This is a tourism mecca and a fabulous city so why not?" McGehee asked.
If that doesn’t happen, some residents are thinking of making a major change.
"I'd like to go back to Medina. I'm ready to go back to Medina,” said long-time Belltown resident Sheena Carector.
A 21-year-old man came to the scene after the shooting; police say he was a friend of the victim and was looking for revenge. He brandished a gun, which turned out to be stolen, and was arrested.
Police say a man called investigators Saturday, just before noon, with information on the shooting.
The man was taken to Seattle Police headquarters and questioned.
Detectives believe they have identified all parties involved in the shooting. Investigation is ongoing.
KIRO
